DEC seeks participants for summer game bird surveys

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, Jul 30th 2013 12:00 pm

New
York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Joe
Martens today encouraged New Yorkers to participate in surveys about
two popular game birds: wild turkeys and ring-necked pheasants.

"Citizen
science efforts such as these provide our wildlife managers with
invaluable data and give people the opportunity to partner with DEC
to help monitor state wildlife resources," Martens said. "I
encourage residents to take the time to record their observations of
turkeys or pheasants while exploring the forests and fields around
their home or driving through New York's beautiful landscapes this
summer."

Summer
Wild Turkey Sighting Survey

Since
1996, DEC has conducted the summer wild turkey sighting survey to
estimate the number of wild turkey poults (young of the year) per hen
statewide. Weather, predation and habitat conditions during the
breeding and brood-rearing seasons can all significantly impact nest
success, hen survival and poult survival. This index allows the DEC
to gauge reproductive success and predict fall harvest potential.

During
the month of August, survey participants will record the sex and age
composition of all flocks of wild turkeys observed during normal
travel. Individuals interested in participating can download a summer
wild turkey sighting survey form from the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/48732.html.
Detailed instructions can be found with the data sheet. Survey cards
can also be obtained by contacting a regional DEC office, by calling
518-402-8886, or by emailing [email protected]
(type "Turkey Survey" in the subject line).

Monitoring
Pheasants in the Genesee Valley Focus Area

Farmers
in the 13 counties that comprise the Lake Plains of New York have
partnered with DEC since 1945 to help survey wild pheasant
populations. This effort continues in the newly established "Pheasant
Habitat Focus Area" in the Genesee Valley (portions of Livingston,
Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties). The focus area was created as
a part of DEC's recently completed 10-year management plan for
ring-necked pheasants. The goal of the focus area is to concentrate
the efforts of public and private habitat conservation programs to
benefit pheasants and other grassland birds. The surveys will help
DEC monitor pheasant populations and evaluate the success of habitat
management efforts in the focus area.

Those
who farm land in Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming or Monroe counties can
consider participating in the farmer-pheasant
inventory.
No
special observations are required; just those made during normal
spring and summer farming activities. To join, contact DEC at
518-402-8886 or by email ([email protected],
write "Farmer-Pheasant Inventory" in the subject line).

Those
who do not farm, but would like to contribute their pheasant
observations from Livingston, Genesee, Wyoming and Monroe counties
can join the summer
pheasant sighting survey.
During the month of August, survey participants record the sex and
age of all pheasants observed during normal travel. A survey form can
be printed from the DEC website at http://www.dec.ny.gov/animals/72543.html
or call 518-402-8886 for further guidance.